Contemporary Plays from Iraq is a ground-breaking collection of Middle Eastern drama translated into English for the very first time. With works from both established and emerging male and female playwrights, written in country and in exile, this volume offers current Iraqi perspectives on a war and occupation that have significantly impacted the Middle East and the rest of the world. Dealing exclusively with contemporary plays originating from Iraq, this anthology gives under-studied Arabic political theatre the attention it deserves and provides a general introduction that sets the plays within their cultural and historical contexts. The plays are preceded by introductions from the playwrights themselves, further enriching each piece for the enjoyment and understanding of the reader.
The volume is introduced and translated by James Al-Shamma, Assistant Professor at Belmont University, US, and A. Al-Azraki, an Iraqi playwright.
Papildus informācija
This volume consists of nine plays by Iraqi playwrights, mostly written since the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. The anthology features a general introduction by the editors and a brief introduction to each play, written by the playwright.
| Foreword |
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vi | |
| Biographies |
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viii | |
| General Introduction |
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xi | |
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Introduction to The Takeover |
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1 | (22) |
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3 | (20) |
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23 | (12) |
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25 | (10) |
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Introduction to Ishtar in Baghdad |
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35 | (16) |
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37 | (14) |
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Introduction to Summer Rain |
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51 | (20) |
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53 | (18) |
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Introduction to Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad |
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71 | (36) |
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Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad |
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73 | (34) |
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Introduction to Me, Torture, and Your Love |
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107 | (14) |
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Me, Torture, and Your Love |
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109 | (12) |
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Introduction to A Strange Bird on our Roof |
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121 | (22) |
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A Strange Bird on our Roof |
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123 | (20) |
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Introduction to Cartoon Dreams |
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143 | (26) |
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145 | (24) |
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Introduction to The Widow |
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169 | |
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171 | |
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James Al-Shamma is Assistant Professor of Theatre at Belmont University, where he started teaching in 2007. He teaches theatre history and literature, scriptwriting, film, improvisation and other courses. He directs at the university and is an artistic and producing partner for the Five Dollar Recession (FDR) Theatre Company. Dr. Al-Shammas principal areas of research are contemporary women playwrights and Arabic, and specifically Iraqi, theatre. He has published two books on American playwright Sarah Ruhl and has published articles in the Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism and The Eugene ONeill Review.
A. Al-Azraki is an Iraqi playwright.
